Abstract
Two disparate studies detected additive genetic variances and covariances for traits reflecting growth, growth rhythm, and disease resistance in Larixoccidentalis Nutt. after 4 and 8 years of field testing. Heritabilities of moderate size combined with large phenotypic variances to presage relatively large responses to direct selection: genetic gains in growth of about 9% seemed readily feasible per unit of selection intensity. Strong genetic correlations (absolute value is greater than 0.6) linked growth traits with several traits that reflect growth rhythm and with defoliation from Meria needle cast (Merialaricis Vuill.). The results suggest that selecting for increased growth also increases resistance to needle cast but disrupts the growth rhythm typical of natural populations. Selecting for the rate of shoot elongation, however, should increase resistance to the needle cast, prevent the deterioration of growth rhythm, and still provide 70% of the gains in growth that would be available from direct univariate selection.
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